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Carole Mikita ReportingThe Days of '47 are here and that means a week's worth of celebrating.
If you are looking for family and friend activities, we’ll remind you of This Is the Place Heritage Park with the pioneer village, Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum, or the Salt Lake City cemetery where you can pick up a map to find the earliest pioneer graves, or the Days of 47 fine art exhibit at the Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg.
The activities have begun; this past weekend two big events kicked off the festivities. Saturday morning thousands of children marched and walked and rode in the annual Youth Parade. It's their chance to celebrate with song, friendship and to share their different cultures.
Christopher Snyder, Taylorsville: "This was the best parade I've ever seen so far, the 2004 season. They had a lot of colors that haven't been used before in any other years."
Later that afternoon freshly brushed horses pulled sleighs and carriages and carried riders in the annual Horse Parade; this year they rode down Fourth West and through the Gateway.
The Days of '47 Rodeo is underway. This is one of the biggest events on the pro tour. The top cowboys and cowgirls come from as far away as Australia to compete in events like barrel racing and calf roping.
Competitors park their horse trailers along the streets outside the Delta Center for part of each day. They are all aware of protestors and groups who threaten to disrupt their events.
Julie Herman, Bluffdale: "I think there's added security, but I also think it has a neighborhood watch-type theory that we all watch out for each other's animals."
Chrissy Van, South Jordan: "They go overboard in the rodeos to keep track of the animals and make sure they're well-kept for."
For months now community, church and family groups have been busy designing and decorating floats, and many are on display at the Salt Palace where you can look to your hearts content at the creativity until 8 pm Monday night.
And this Saturday morning at 9am sharp, the granddaddy event of them all winds its way through Salt Lake City with nearly 120 entries, bands and floats, and more horses.
